Metro easily tricked by Houston, 4:1
April 1, 2017
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Remick
Torres 3
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Wright-Phillips
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On April 1st, Metro was the one being fooled, dropping a 4:1 result to Houston after an inexplicable performance. After spending a calendar year without allowing three or more goals in a loss, Metro has now done so in two of the last three matches.
There were three changes to the lineup: Aurelien Collin got his first league start of the year for Damien Perrinelle, Sacha Kljestan returned from international duty to bench Alex Muyl, and Derrick Etienne stepped in for Fredrik Gulbrandsen, who was a late scratch after hurting his groin in training.
The teams exchanged goals early on. In the 13th minute, a Felipe pass in traffic found Kljestan, who redirected to Bradley Wright-Phillips at the top of the box. The record-breaking attacker took the ball in and then slotted it into the net past the onrushing goalkeeper. It was Metro's 1000th goal in league play. Sadly, a minute later, Houston played the corner short, and an unmarked Dylan Remick evened the score.
Collin had to leave the game in the 39th minute with an injury, and was replaced by Perrinelle. The incoming Frenchman's first act was a foul in the box... on which he looked to have gotten all ball. Still, the dive was called a penalty, and Cubo Torres gave Houston the lead.
Torres got another one in the 56th. Luis Robles made a terrific save, but the ball did not leave the box. With a player standing in offside position in front of the Metro keeper, Torres' shot sailed into the net. He completed his hat-trick in injury time, curving a free kick over the stationary Metro wall.
Bad calls or not, this was not a game Metro had any chance of winning. Houston dominated not only on the scoreboard, but on the field. Once again, shots on goal were hard to come by; a late play where Etienne danced through the penalty area but failed to get a shot off pretty much summed up the story.
Yes, we know that this team is better off than it was at this point a year ago. At some point, however, it will need to address its deficiencies, or we won't be saying that for much longer...
Lineup: Robles, Lawrence, Long, Collin, Lade, Adams, Martins, Kljestan, Royer, Etienne, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Perrinelle, Zizzo, Muyl.
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